Leading online fashion giants, Oh Polly, have taken bold steps to deliver on their group-wide sustainability promise.
The Wirral based firm is setting a precedence for the industry by investing £0.7m in a new hybrid renewable energy system which will provide heat and electricity to the 180,000 sq meter facility which is situated in Bromborough’s Riverside Business Park.
Partnering with leading renewable energy specialists Engenera, the new Combined Heat and Power Unit (CHP) will provide enough renewable energy for the site to become carbon zero by November. The CHP system uses anaerobic digestion to power a generator which in turn will produce electricity and warehouse heating for the site.
Working alongside an additional roof-mounted solar system will provide energy without the need for fuel over the summer months when there is less need to heat the warehouse facility.
The move, which will position the company as one of the industry’s leading ‘green’ fashion brands, comes as part of a companywide strategy to deliver a safe, sustainable workplace whilst still remaining at the leading edge of high quality, online fashion.
Speaking about the project, Oh Polly’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager Dyfan Lloyd said, “We are aware that this is a major move for the industry and a huge undertaking for us here at Oh Polly. As leaders in our field, creating a safe and sustainable environment for our staff is central to our challenging sustainability strategy. It’s a huge project but we are extremely excited to be taking this next step on our sustainability journey.”
Oh Polly, which was founded by Claire Henderson and Mike Branney in 2014 after they met whilst travelling in the far East now employs over 200 staff in the UK. Along with their Bromborough HQ, the company also has offices in Glasgow, Los Angeles with dedicated suppliers in Dhaka and Guangzhou. Founded initially to help fund the couple’s charity work in Cambodia, the company has stayed true to its ethical roots with over 50% of their clothing range made by dedicated supply partners and a team of buyers who deal direct with manufacturers from across the globe to help eradicate exploitation. To date, the company’s charity, The Brannerson Foundation, has raised over £1million to help support children in some of the poorest regions in the world. Oh Polly have also achieved the feat of becoming a zero to landfill site this year.
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